Judge denies summary judgement request against World Poker Tour Enterprises
In the antitrust lawsuit brought against WPT Enterprises, Inc. by poker professionals Chris Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Joseph Hachem, Phil Gordon, Howard Lederer, and Greg Raymer, presiding United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II handed down a decision today denying the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the plaintiffs.
“We are very pleased with Judge Wrights order denying the Motion for Summary Judgment,” said WPTE’s General Counsel, Adam Pliska. “We feel that this decision confirms our contention that this case is without merit.”
Ferguson, et al had filed a motion for summary judgement earlier this year, and WPTE filed an Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion on April 12, 2007, to which the plaintiffs filed a Reply Brief. After review of all submissions and arguments Wright denied the plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment.
This development essentially ensures a long stretch of protracted legal wrangling between the two parties over the issues at hand, and will likely result in the players involved continuing to choose not to play in WPT events.
